The consultants are in charge now: How admen and advisers conquered American politics

Ten miles from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, located in a low-rise office building in Towson, Maryland, is a successful business few Americans know about. Mentzer Media Services is one of the leading political consulting firms in the country. Mentzer Media does not design or produce the ubiquitous advertisements we see on television. Instead, the company specializes in the strategic placement of campaign commercials by purchasing airtime on behalf of its many clients, deciding where and when (and how often) an ad should run. Time-buying is a critical component of modern campaign strategy. It is also a highly profitable one. According to the company’s website, Mentzer Media has handled more than $1 billion in media buys. Assuming an industry-standard 10 to 15 percent commission on the ads it placed, Mentzer Media has earned between $100 and $150 million over the past several election cycles. In 2012 alone, Mentzer Media placed more than $245 million worth of ads, half of which were on behalf of Mitt Romney’s super PAC, Restore Our Future.

Mentzer Media is just one of the many consulting firms that profited from the 2012 election. The top Democratic media firm, GMMB, handled $435 million in spending in 2012, 90 percent of which came from the Obama campaign. Together, thousands of candidates, the two major parties, and a myriad of wealthy outside groups spent over $6 billion trying to win office or sway the outcome of a race. More than half of this total, around $3.6 billion, went to consulting firms specializing in media, direct mail, and digital services. Although it is difficult to know precisely how much consultants earn in a given campaign cycle, the top firms in the industry appear to be doing quite well. In 2012, just fifty professional firms, averaging around $50 million in expenditures, handled 75 percent of all consulting services in federal campaigns. Between 2008 and 2012, revenues and billings by the top fifty consulting firms grew in real terms by 66 percent, about seven times the rate of growth in overall political spending during the same period. Much of this increase is due to the pronounced rise in independent expenditures by super PACs and other outside groups. The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United opened the floodgates to more than $1 billion in outside spending in 2012—most of it on television advertising produced and placed by professional consultants.

read more  http://www.salon.com/2016/01/10/the_consultants_are_in_charge_now_how_admen_and_advisers_conquered_american_politics/

LW Consulting Promotes Vice President

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- LW Consulting, Inc., has announced a pair of changes that will affect the way it organizes its services.

    LW Consulting's Senior Living Division is now known as Post Acute Services. The new name is more aligned with payment reform dynamics and better reflects the services that LWCI already provides.
    Rodney Farley, formerly Director of Senior Living for the organization, has been promoted to Vice President of Post Acute Services.

Post Acute Services continues to meet the same standard of quality that LWCI clients depend upon. Services include compliance auditing, reimbursement, and operations consulting with other support options available.

Farley has been with LWCI for 25 years, joining it as his first professional job after graduating Pennsylvania State University and undergoing an accounting internship. His commitment to the company stems from a devotion to the vision and mission of the firm. As Vice President, he oversees various services designed to meet the needs of providers in the post acute continuum.

"The Post Acute Services name represents a more innovative, redesigned approach to providing consulting services in the senior living environment. With the growth of our firm and the depth and breadth of experiences of our team, we are better able to anticipate and provide solutions for the changing needs of our clients in the integrated care delivery system. We are not changing anything here but the name," Farley said.

About LW Consulting, Inc.:

LW Consulting, Inc. (LWCI) is headquartered in Pennsylvania, with additional offices in Maine, Georgia and South Carolina. LWCI services are available nationwide thanks to our extensive network of consultants and strategic partners. LWCI provides a full range of healthcare consulting solutions. Our services are available to the full continuum of healthcare providers, including hospitals, health systems, LTACs, physician practice group, rehabilitation providers, nursing facilities, home health, senior living providers, behavioral health providers, outpatient and community based providers. We work on behalf of providers and often collaborate with their attorneys. We are experienced in working with State Agencies, Medicare Contractors, the Office of Inspector General and US Attorneys.

see more http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lw-consulting-promotes-vice-president-300199598.html

TactiX Strategic Consulting Launches its New Website

TactiX Strategic Consulting has announced the re-launch of its website giving the company a strong finish in 2015.

The website’s renovation runs parallel to TactiX Strategic Consulting’s efforts to boost its online presence through the publication of rich and distinctive content. The site covers services that include marketing, visual solutions, advertising, public relations, event management, media consultation and more.

Among other major achievements seen in 2015 is TactiX’s joint venture with Action Global Communications, headquartered in Cyprus, to become its representing agency in Jordan. The agreement adds Jordan to Action Global’s network of more than 40 countries worldwide and reflects its interest in penetrating new markets, particularly those in the Middle East as the region continues to witness substantial growth.

Nour Jabassini, the Director of TactiX Strategic Consulting, commented on the importance of the re-launch saying: “Since our establishment, we have always been keen to incorporate the latest technologies to ensure our clients the highest standard of service. Our website’s re-launch reflects our interest to keep up with the latest regional trends.”

Ms. Jabassini further pointed out that the website’s elegant design coupled with highly engaging content will make TactiX the first choice for individuals interested in learning more about customer service.

tactixconsulting.com provides the latest news about TactiX and its clients in addition to the many services offered to prospective clients interested in getting onboard.

source http://www.venturemagazine.me/2015/12/tactix-strategic-consulting-launches-its-new-website/

Hitachi Consulting Introduces New Enterprise Cloud for SAP for Industrial Machinery & Components Solutions

DALLAS, Dec. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Hitachi Consulting, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd (TSE: 6501) and a leading provider of IT consulting and management consulting solutions and services, today announced an agreement with SAP to deliver a fully integrated Hitachi Consulting Enterprise Cloud for SAP for Industrial Machinery & Components (SAP for IM&C) solutions. Hitachi Consulting will offer an affordable, ready-to-use, subscription-based offering of SAP® solutions in its private hosted cloud, helping IM&C companies to access SAP software quickly and easily without the need for up-front infrastructure costs associated with on-premises software deployments.

The subscription-based Hitachi Consulting Enterprise Cloud for SAP for IM&C can reduce the total cost of ownership by as much as 25% compared to full on-site implementation, and eliminate traditional IT overhead and up-front perpetual licensing costs.

"Hitachi Consulting Enterprise Cloud solution for discrete manufacturing allows us to help companies across multiple industries realize the potential of SAP applications in a simple, modular, easily accessible environment," said Michael Driessen, senior vice president at Hitachi Consulting. "With our new solution geared specifically for discrete manufacturing, companies with the most intricate processes and fulfillment needs are now able to capture the operational benefits of SAP software in the cloud."

Through the Enterprise Cloud Framework, Hitachi Consulting will provide customers with a cost-effective, on-demand, cloud-based delivery model of their SAP software solutions. This capability is designed to bundle a company's entire IT environment (whether on-premises or software as a service), their applications, integration to third-party systems, as well as managed services – as a single package – for one monthly price.

"Organizations running SAP software can now purchase the infrastructure, software, deployment and management services, and ancillary solutions as a bundle from one source by way of subscription-based pricing," said Jim Cole, Hitachi Consulting senior vice president, Cloud Solutions. "We plan to deliver standardized modular offerings – think of them as building blocks – with fixed pricing. Think 'small, medium and large offerings' with the ability to tailor to each company's unique needs."

The Hitachi Consulting Enterprise Cloud for SAP for IM&C is built on the Enterprise Cloud Framework, specifically designed for SAP applications and tailored to address the complexities of various industries. With more than 100 industry-specific scenarios spanning finance, accounting, manufacturing, sales, distribution and more, the solution is equipped for the unique challenges of dynamic, discrete manufacturing industries including automotive, aerospace and defense, and industrial machinery components. Key business capabilities of the Hitachi Consulting Enterprise Cloud for SAP for IM&C include:

    Inventory and forecasting control – Decrease overhead and forecast material needs in a shifting environment
    Production and process control – Increase agility of processes and production, vital in discrete manufacturing
    Product development – Enable integrated R&D management and product development processes
    Procurement – Automate and streamline procurement processes
    Supply chain management – Help ensure synchronized demand and supply and avoid out-of-stock situations
    Manufacturing – Plan and execute both discrete and batch or process manufacturing
    Environmental, health & safety – Support environmental, occupational and product safety processes, regulatory compliance and corporate responsibility requirements
    Sales and service – Streamline, automate and integrate sales processes; manage complaints and material returns
    Quality management and compliance – Manage and document product quality; support financial and regulatory compliance
    Corporate services – Support critical business functions

"SAP is pleased with its partnership with Hitachi Consulting as an easy, 'one stop' cloud opportunity for customers," said Luis Verdi, senior vice president, global head of OEM & Partner Managed Cloud, SAP. "The Hitachi Enterprise Cloud Framework delivers an integration solution across hardware, software, IT and business services. What's exciting is that an SAP product can become the pillar of a company's on-demand success in their market."

Hitachi Consulting has helped move large SAP systems successfully to the cloud, and hosts and manages mission-critical SAP cloud applications for some of the world's largest enterprises. The Hitachi Consulting Enterprise Cloud Framework puts Hitachi Consulting firmly at the center of an enabling environment that helps every company become a "clickable enterprise" – nimble, fast-moving organizations with their entire IT applications portfolio, whether SaaS or on-premises applications, or both, being managed and delivered through the cloud.

see more: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hitachi-consulting-introduces-new-enterprise-cloud-for-sap-for-industrial-machinery--components-solutions-300195904.html

Relativity Lawyers Allege Serious Missteps By Bankruptcy Consulting Firm

EXCLUSIVE: Lawyers for Relativity are questioning “a number of disturbing trends” undertaken by FTI Consulting regarding actions they have engaged in concerning both its television and film business, its corporate governance, its sale process, and the digital studios, including that it made decisions without board approval or consultation. Those decisions included hirings and firings and reducing salaries, including that of Relativity head Ryan Kavanaugh’s “in excess of 99%” followed by telling the CEO that he should leave the company entirely to avoid confusion among employees.

The complaints and accusations were outlined in a confidential letter (read it here) obtained by Deadline that was sent December 8 from lawyer Van Durrerr of Skadden Arps to FTI’s lawyers.

The Relativity lawyers note, for instance, “after three months of control by FTI, the debtor did not obtain any bids for its business other than the stalking horse bid,” but still managed to pay themselves over $4M in fees. In fact, while not obtaining another bidding, FTI managed to approv its own fee requests. They also state, “in a contested litigation, these facts will be evaluated by an impartial decision-maker.”

In other words, they are prepared to litigate and have, indeed, asked FTI for “a litigation hold on documents, including email and text. They are requesting emails from inside FTI and asking for “an immediate production of all email and text message communications, referring or relating to” Relativity and third parties, “including Cortland lenders and/or their affiliates or syndicate members.” They are suggesting a mediation.

FTI Consulting was hired in by Relativity to help the company sort through its finances and assist it through the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. Relativity lawyers noted that they started finding these problems after the sale of the television division.

And as far as the film business goes, Relativity alleges that there were “multiple misstep” by FTI, citing refusing to approve the sale of the film Collide and failing to consult with its board, and making decisions that ended up preventing a paydown of its debt load and caused further “difficulties” with vendors. The Eran Creevy-directed movie starring Nicholas Hoult, Felicity Jones, Ben Kingsley and Anthony Hopkins had been due for theatrical release in the U.S. on October 30 but was stymied by the bankruptcy. The film was then later bought by Open Road and IM Global and is now scheduled for release in April 2016.

They say that FTI earmarked 230 vendors as “critical,” and among those 96.5% served that division. Of those deemed “critical” 84% were paid, however according to the letter, “FTI disregarded repeated pleas to honor obligations to key film vendors, including payroll companies.”

In the area of corporate governance, Relativity alleges that FTI made many business decisions without board approval or even consultation. Among those, they claim, were hiring and firing decisions and as a case in point, they mention the firing of Relativity chief financial officer and co-chief operating officer Andrew Mathews which was later reversed. “When the board discovered this reversal through probing on a board call … the CRO explained that the decision ‘resolved several issues’ with Cortland lenders on the DIP financing.’ Assuming this is true, the board deserved to hear about it, and make their own judgment, in real time.”

Also, Relativity claims that FTI made salary and bonus decisions without board involvement and pointed specifically to salary cuts of 20% that were implemented across the business “although,” the letter states, “not one cut was implemented in the television business.”

Specifically to do with Kavanaugh, Relativity lawyers say that “without explanation, one executive suffered a salary reduction of in excess of 99% — Ryan Kavanaugh. During this same time frame, the CRO encouraged the CEO to absent himself from the company to avoid ‘confusion among employees,’ and also suggested on multiple occasions that the CEO should resign.”

They further state that although roughly 33% of Relativity’s personnel were let go, none of those leaving the company worked in the television division.

And then there is the sale process where Relativity claims that on June 29 of this year, Catalyst purchased the term loan A position for $140M “and had signed commitments to invest an additional $170M — more than the debtor needed to follow through on its business plan.” However, three months later (and they cite Oct. 1), they say that FTI failed to get anymore bids past the stalking horse. Specifically, the letter states: “Setting aside questions of blame, let’s focus on responsibility. During the pre-petition period, no estate professional was paid more than FTI (over $4M).”

In terms of the film side, Relativity claimed that it had “multiple films ready for release, and foreign output distributors were prepared to make payments to reduce outstanding obligations against such films following the petition date.” But FTI instructed outside lawyers to send cease and desist letters to the distribs “which prevented paydown of debt, and continuing difficulties” with RKA (which was responsible for prints and advertising) and vendor CIT. They said, once again, the board was not consulted.

On the eve of filing their Chapter 11 papers, Relativity, the letter states, “had a proposal for the sale of the film Collide” but that FTI “refused to approve the transaction, and later approved a sale of the same film for 75% less, with payment defered a year.”


see more at: http://deadline.com/2015/12/relativity-fti-consulting-complaints-bankruptcy-1201668081/

Why do so many grads go into finance and consulting despite long hours, stress?

The glamour and high salaries associated with careers in finance and consulting can come at a hefty price: the field is also associated with long hours, frequent travel, and stress, made more obvious after a several high-profile suicides by finance workers over the past couple years.

But despite these drawbacks, a significant number of grads, especially at elite Ivy League schools like Harvard University, continue to go into that line of work. In fact, 33 percent of employed seniors in the 2015 Harvard University class went into finance or consulting, though only 0.5 percent said they still wanted to be in that field in over a decade. Why?
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As a recent segment on WBUR points out, the emphasis consulting and finance firms put on recruiting has a lot to do with it.

As associate professor Lauren Rivera of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management told Boston.com in May, “They wine and dine students and tell them they’re the best and brightest. They appear on campus at a time when students have a lot of anxiety about what they want to do.”

This makes a lot of sense for the companies. Hiring “the best and the brightest” gives consulting firms prestige when pitching their services to potential clients, regardless of students’ academic backgrounds, so it’s not uncommon for recruiters to target students majoring in English literature, or even biology.

McKinsey & Company, for example, boasts that its alumni – nearly 30,000 – work in “virtually every business sector” in 120 countries.

But what about the graduates?

Alexandra Michel, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who studied the effect of the banking work culture on employees’ health, told WBUR that during the first four years of employment, employees often dealt with insomnia, weight gain and anxiety, but their work performance was unchanged.

After four years of employment, however, the employees’ physical and mental well being broke down, and many saw a decline in ethical sensitivity and creativity.

see more at: http://www.boston.com/jobs/news/2015/12/10/why-many-grads-into-finance-and-consulting-despite-long-hours-stress/qGJstxIrVJdI8GM9vNolQI/story.html

Consulting firm picked to hunt for Pittsburgh schools chief lacks history

The firm that was hired by the board of the Pittsburgh Public Schools to lead the search for a new leader for the district has no documented history that it ever completed a superintendent search.

In fact, the only superintendent search that Perkins Consulting Group was involved in was for a small school district in New York state, where the board ultimately decided to promote its deputy superintendent, according to documents provided to the district by the consulting firm’s head, Brian Perkins.

His firm was hired last month by the Pittsburgh board in a 5-4 vote at a rate not to exceed $100,000. Board directors Thomas Sumpter, Regina Holley, Carolyn Klug, Terry Kennedy and Sylvia Wilson approved the measure.

Board member Cynthia Falls voted no and outgoing directors Mark Brentley, Sherry Hazuda and Bill Isler abstained.

Ms. Holley said she and Mr. Sumpter met Mr. Perkins at a conference for the Council of Urban Boards of Education and recommended his consulting firm to the board when then-superintendent Linda Lane announced plans to retire from the district in September. Ms. Holley and Mr. Perkins said they were “impressed with his credentials.”

Mr. Sumpter said he did not contact any of Mr. Perkins’ references and did not know if any other board members did so.

“I don’t think that was carried out by any specific person,” he said. “I guess it comes down to Dr. Perkins’ unique skill set that he brings and us being satisfied with that.”

The board also did not distribute a request for proposals for other potential candidates, raising questions among some community members and stakeholders about the amount of input and participation the public will have in the hiring decision.

see more at: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/2015/12/07/Consulting-firm-picked-by-city-to-hunt-for-schools-chief-lacks-history/stories/201512070022